Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-06-09
Change OF Stock Food.

1t is generally believed by most
farmers that horses, cattle, sheep. and
pigs would grow faster and keep IN
better condition if they were provided
with greater variety of food. especial.
ly after the supply of green fodder fails
in the fall. Still the great majority of
farmers are at no pains to provide
substances that will secure a change of
diet. Most horses are kept on grass,
oats. and hay all their lives. The re-
gular diet OF pigs kept in the west is
corn. III other substances, as milk,
slops, potatoes, or pumpkins are fed to
them 1t is for the reason that no other
use can be found for them. They are
regarded as waste substances from
which pigs can derive some benefit.
They are accordingly put in Their food
as a convenient way Of disposing Of
them. Cows not kept on dairy farms
have little but green or dried grass 10
eat from the time they are weaned till
they are killed or die of old age. Ii
they have era n or corn fodder it is be-
cause these substances have no market
value and can be put to no other use.
They ale allowed to eat them, some
times forced TO do so for long periods.
SO that considerable hay can be sold
from the place. Little or no pains are
taken in this country to insure change
OF food for sheep and it is chiefly on
this account that they are less profit
able than il England, where they are
supplied with turn ps. beaus, and oil
cake, in addition to straw and hay.
The superiority of English mutton il
partly due 10 the breeds of sheep, but
chiefly to the way they are fed They
are supplied with the kinds of food
that are best suited TO the production
of large amount Of superior me at in
the shortest time possible. The same
care Is taken to hasten Their growth
that is taken in this country to insure
the rapid growth of cattle and hogs
Most animals, no less than human be-
ings. soon tire OF the same k nd of food,
although it is the best all things being
taken INTO consideration. This can be
observed OF all kinds of domesticated
animals and fowls. Sweet, tender
green grass is very palatablc, and con-
tains all the elements necessary to pro-
duce bone, fat, hair. wool, hoof, horn,
and milk. Still, the varying appetite
Graves something different ut times.
Cows in summer will leave the rich
grass in the pastures to get bite of
old hay or mouthful of straw. They
will not unfrcquently eat that which is
somewhat moldy Horses taken from
stalls well supplied with timothy hay
and clean, bright oats will steal bite
from the strawstacks they pass and nj p
oil the tops of weeds growing along
the path they travel. They have food
enough and of the best quality, but
they want Il change of diet. even il it is
much poorer than they have been ac-
customed to. They desire condiments
as well ~ true food, and they find them
in weeds, the foliage of bushes, and the
bark of trees. Sheep show their desire
for variety of food by eating weeds
sorrel, mos, and bushes. Goats have
been accused of eating old fruit-cans.
hoop-sk rts. clothes-lines, and water
pals, but it is certain that they will de-
vour almost every thing of vegetable
growth. Pi-s are omniyerous. and
W II eat all manner of vegetable and
animal substances, for It's their nature
ia" Restricting pigs to II diet of dry
corn has with little doubt had much to
do in increasing their liability TO disease.
and in making their constitutions deli
cate. The wild hog that ranges the
forest eats grass like the OK. meat like
tiger, fish like an otter, and insects
like bird, lives long. and is free from
diseases that carry off so many pigs
that are kept in confinement on one
kind of food.
Fowls Of all kinds, like pigs, are
omnivorous, and observation shows
that they only do their best when their
diet is varied. When left to them
selves they will eat grass, all sorts of
green vegetables, unripe and matured
fruits, fish, meat, bone, shells, char
coal, grain and seeds of all kinds,
worms, insects. and the smaller kinds
of reptiles. They are very fond of all
that class of substances that are
classed as condiments, and which in
clude the peppers, spices. and the vari-
CTS aromat c herbs. Not only the
flesh, but the eggs of wild birds are
superior to those of domesticated
fowls. They rank as delicacies, and
have gamey flavor. 1t is doubtless
the part of wisdom to provide animals
and fowls with the substances they de-
sire TO eat and not to limit their supply
of food to the articles that possess the
highest flcsh-producing value MS de-
termined in chemical laboratory.
Hogs and sheep when restricted for
considerable time 10 one kind of food
lose their appetite. fall off in condition,
become const pated, and contract va
riety of diseases, some of which are
likely to prove fatal. They do not
need drugs, but a change of food that
Will stimulate their appetite and inn
prove their digestion. Animals and
fowls are rs fond of condiments as
human beings are. and there are good
reasons for believing that they are us
beneficial To them. Their natural
craving for certain kinds of food not
generally afforded them should be graft
fled in order to promote their comfort.
for comfort is essential to health and
growth Most feeders have noticed
that animal will not eat with relish
what they do not want, though it may
head the list of substances recon-
mended for producing fat, flesh. wool,
or milk. The animal is generally the